There is no doubt in my mind that the empowerment online of customers over companies is a very good thing. If for nothing else it may in due time help promote the creation of meaningful and valuable products, tools and services over just endless piles of meaningless, valueless junk. Who in their right minds can argue against that?
I also think that with the upcoming legislation surrounding improved privacy, restriction on 3rd party cookies etc, life will be very tough for companies not actually producing anything but living off arbitraging the products of others. Again, not necessarily a bad thing – unless your business is arbitrage of course – since it again will keep focus on the real value creation.
Now, all we really need is for people – the customers – to apply their powers in a meaningful, value creating way and not just consume more meaningless junk because that was essentially all they were brought up to do. Oh, well…
